THE ALPINE POPPY 195 



parnassifolius, Linn.), 2 to 6 inches high, shares with 

 the Pyrenean Buttercup the distinction of being the 

 only other Alpine species, which has undivided and 

 non-lobed leaves. The thick leaves are here large 

 and heart-shaped, and borne on leaf-stalks. The 

 nerves on the upper surface are very well marked. 

 The leaves on the flowering shoots sheathe the axis 

 at their base. The whole of the lower portion of 

 the plant is apt to be very hairy. 



The Rue-leaved Callianthemum (Callianthemum 

 rutcefolium, Reichb.), sometimes included in the genus 

 Ranunculus, and its variety C. coriandrifolium, Reichb., 

 by some considered as a distinct species, are among 

 the rarer and more local High Alpines. They have 

 highly compound leaves with long stalks, the segments 

 of the leaves resembling those of the Rue (Ruta). 

 The petals are white, with a yellow claw. 



THE ALPINE POPPY. 



The Alpine Poppy (Papaver nudicaule, Linn., 

 natural order Papaveraceae, the Poppy family) is a 

 beautiful High Alpine of local occurrence, chiefly on 

 calcareous soils. It varies from about 2 to 6 inches 

 in height ; otherwise it closely resembles the ordinary 

 Lowland Poppies in habit, except that the flowering 

 shoots are leafless. It is, however, a perennial plant, 

 whereas many of the Poppies of the plains are annuals. 

 This plant is remarkable for the large number of 

 variations to be found in some of its principal 



